PHHJJS 


Published  in  October,  1904 


Phillis 


Frontispiece 


Facing  Page 

'One  glance  showed  him  the  cause  was  up,  and 
with  coolness  and  good  sense  he  calmly  sat 
down  on  a  step'"  .  .  .  .  .20 


"  'Dick    turned  and  took   Miss    Phillis's  hand  and 
kissed  it' " 


42 


"  'Then  the  girl's  head  dropped  on  Dick's  shoulder, 

and  he  put  his  arms  about  her'  '          ...     64 


"'The  picture  of  the  Captain  . 
its  frame.'  " 


.  hastily  cut  from 


86 


2056266 


LOVE    FINDS    THE   WAY 


U  T  WANT  you  all  to  look  at 
that  picture  closely,  and 
though  the  flicker  of  the 
firelight  makes  it  difficult  to  see, 
I  think  you  can  detect  a  curious 
roughness  about  the  outline  of 
the  figure,  much  as  if  the  cobbler- 
artist  who  painted  it,  finding  his 
technique  insufficient  to  make  it 
project  itself  from  the  back 
ground,  had  endeavoured  to  ob 
tain  such  an  effect  by  actual 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

layers  of  paint.  Look  at  the  right 
shoulder,  above  the  epaulette, 
and  you  will  perceive  what  I 
mean.  See  how  lumpily  the  paint 
is  laid  on?" 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  see  anything 
unusual,"  remarked  some  one. 

"Then  the  light  comes  wrong 
for  you.  I'm  sure  that  some  of 
you  sit  so  that  you  can  see  to 
what  I  refer?" 

"  Yes,  yes,  it's  very  noticeable," 
acceded  a  girl  to  whom  the  ap 
peal  was  made. 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"  As  it  will  be  to  you  all,  when 
I  tell  you  its  real  nature.  Im 
agine  that  once  that  figure  was 
cut  from  the  surrounding  canvas 
by  a  knife,  and  that  later,  when 
it  was  restored,  the  injury  was 
painted  out,  as  well  as  could  be, 
but  inevitably  with  a  thickening 
of  the  paint  at  that  point  almost 
into  ridges." 

"Yes.  I  see  now  what  you 
mean,"  assented  a  listener. 

"Certainly.     It's  as  plain  as  can 
be,"  agreed  a  second  one. 
ii 


Lowe  Finds  the  Way 

"Well,  my  story  has  to  do  with 
that  particular  fact,  and  I  am 
going  to  leave  it  to  each  of  you 
to  decide  whether  the  picture  was 
the  evil  genius  or  the  guardian 
angel  of  the  gentleman  it  repre 
sents.  It  was  painted  by  an  un 
known  artist  in  New  York  dur 
ing  the  summer  of  1776,  and  was 
intended  to  depict  one  Lieutenant 
Richard  Goddard,  whose  regiment 
formed  part  of  the  forces  with 
which  Washington  was  holding 
the  city.  Why  he  chose  the  par- 


12 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

ticular  moment  of  war's  alarms  to 
have  himself  painted,  I  cannot 
say,  but  there  are  two  horns  to 
the  dilemma,  and  you  are  wel 
come  to  either,  or  both.  The 
first  explanation  is  that  he  had 
but  just  received  his  commission, 
and  doubtless  was  so  proud  of 
his  new  uniform  that  the  tempta 
tion  to  have  a  counterfeit  pre 
sentment  of  himself  made  was 
irresistible.  The  second  is  that 
between  guard  duty  and  intrench 
ing  he  found  time,  or,  perhaps, 
13 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

as    better    befitted    his 
calling,  killed  it,  by  be 
coming    deeply    enam 
oured    with    his    cousin,    Phillis 
Goelet,   and    it   may    have  been 
that  it  was  painted  at  her  behest, 
or,  at  least,  in  the  hope  that  it 
would  find  a  favour  in  her  eyes, 
which,    if  family  tradition   is    to 
be  trusted,  the  original  was  slow 
to  achieve.    We  know  for  certain 
that  the  actual  sittings  took  place 
at  Fairview,    her  father's    home, 
overlooking  the   East  River,  and 
14 


Love  Finds  the  Wa^ 

about  two  miles  from 
New  York — that  is,  from 
Wall  Street—though  the 
city  then  straggled  almost  a  mile 
farther  north.  The  Captain  had 
been  asked  by  his  kinspeople  to 
make  his  home  with  them,  and  he 
and,  I  suspect,  all  the  other  young 
officers  were  with  them  as  much 
as  their  military  duties  allowed; 
and  here  on  the  lawn  the 
portrait  was  limned,  with  the 
old  house  as  a  background.  One 
can  picture  the  scene  as  he 

15 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

posed  and  the  artist  painted,  and, 
to  judge  from  his  expression, 
Miss  Phillis  is  either  saying  some 
thing  teasing  to  him,  or  else 
some  one  of  the  officers  is  utter 
ing  some  piece  of  gallantry  to 
her.  Or  do  you  think  it  was 
merely  too  early  in  the  season 
for  melons?" 

"  Harold,  how  absurd !  Grand 
father  was  always  very  careful 
what  he  ate." 

"  At  seventy-nine,  yes,  but  that 
was  because  he 


Love  Finds  the 

hadn't  been  at  twenty-two,  cousin. 
A  man  who  doesn't  learn  the  les 
son  of  green  melons  at  twenty 
will  surely  do  so  at  seventy. 
However,  we'll  say  that  he  left 
the  melon  patch  well  alone,  prob 
ably  because  the  rank  and  file 
had  already  stripped  it  bare,  and 
that  the  expression  is  due  to 
Miss  Phillis's  coquetting  with — " 
"Harold,  you  ought  to  be 
ashamed  to  say  such  things.  From 
the  way  you  talk,  every  one  will 
think  her  a  flirt." 

17 


Love  Finds  ibc  Way 

"Didn't  you  tell  me  that  she 
had  sixteen  proposals  of  marriage, 
not  counting  nibbles?" 

"  Yes.  And  it's  true,  for  Mamma 
told  me." 

"And  what  would  you  call  a 
modern  girl  who  had  sixteen 
offers?" 

"Oh,  but  that's  different,  Har 
old.  That  would  be  horribly 
vulgar,  of  course,  but  all  the  girls 
of  that  time  had  lots  of  propo 
sals.  It  was  the  way  things  were 
then." 

18 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"Then  why  make  boast  of  it 
in  her  case?" 

"Why,  you  see — Pshaw!  I 
don't  boast  of  it,  Harold ;  I  only 
tell  of  it  to  prove  how  beautiful 
and  attractive  she  was." 

"  Just  as  every  girl  of  that  gen 
eration  was,  if  you'll  believe  their 
descendants.  But  how  about  the 
men?" 

"Men?  What  do  you  mean?" 
demanded  Mrs.  Goddard. 

"Why,  if  every  girl  had  a 
baker's  dozen  or  so  of 
19 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

lovers,  what  an  awful  disgrace 
rests  on  our  grandfathers." 

"  I  don't  understand  what  you 
mean,  Harold." 

"  That  each  one  was  in  love  a 
dozen  times  before  he  could  get 
a  girl  to  have  him.  They  must 
have  been  awful  chumps.  Really, 
Lieutenant  Dick,  I  don't  wonder 
that  you  have  the  woe-begone 
look  to  your  mouth,  which  a 
moment  ago  I  ascribed  to  melons. 
Think  of  being  rejected  that 
often !  No  wonder  they  were 


*'  'One  glance  showed  him  the  cause  was  up,  and  with  cool 
ness  and  good  sense  he  calmly  sat  down  on  a  step.'  " 

(Page  77) 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

six  and  eight  bottle  men  ;  noth 
ing  short  of  a  hogshead  would 
do  for  me  under  such  a  series 
of  disappointments.  Their  hearts 
must  have  looked  as  if  they  had 
been  through  a  stone-breaker  set 
to  make  top-dressing  for  macadam 
roads." 

"Harold,  you  are  perfectly  un 
bearable.  She  was  his  first  and 
only  love." 

"Then  I  suppose  eleven  other 
girls  were  short  one  proposal  each, 
by  his  being  so  ungallant,  as  well 

21 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

as  unfashionable.  How  the  dear 
creatures  must  have  hated  him." 

"  Nothing  of  the  kind.  Mamma 
assured  me  he  was  a  great 
beau." 

"  Possibly  because  they  liked  a 
variation  from  the  other  kind.  I 
should  think  that  what  we  may 
term  the  '  rapid-fire '  lovers  of  that 
time  must  have  been  rather  a 
nuisance.  As  they  usually  mar 
ried  before  they  were  much  over 
twenty,  they  must  have  proposed 
at  least  three  or  four  times  a 

22 


Love  Finds  tbe  Way 

year.  Probably  once  at  each  sol 
stice  and  equinox." 

"If  you  don't  stop  being  silly, 
and  tell  your  story,  I'll  begin  one 
in  your  stead." 

"Excuse  me,  all,  for  the  dis 
cursiveness.  To  resume,  Captain 
Dick  sat  for  his  portrait  and 
courted  Miss  Phillis  until  early  in 
August,  when  his  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Brooklyn.  There  he 
shared  in  the  drubbing  the  Con 
tinental  army  got,  but,  fortunately, 
having,  as  you  will  see  by  the 
23 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

portrait,  a  good  pair  of  legs,  he 
was  not  taken  prisoner,  and,  hav 
ing  successfully  run  away,  he 
'lived  to  fight  another  day." 

"  He  was  promoted  for  his  con 
duct,  and  you  know  it,  Harold. ' 

"Only  because  his  superior 
officer  couldn't  run  fast  enough 
and  so  was  captured.  Clearly 
a  company  without  a  captain 
wouldn't  do,  and  so  Dick  was 
given  his  colours.  Well.  Here 
he  was  back  again,  and  once  more 
vainly  sighing  at  the  pretty  feet 
24 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

of  Miss  Phillis,  none  the  better,  I 
presume,  in  her  eyes,  because  of 
his  masterly  retreat.  He  was  not 
permitted  to  sigh  for  long,  how 
ever,  for  the  British  effected  a 
landing  on  Manhattan,  and  once 
more  good  legs  were  at  a  pre 
mium.  It  is  needless  to  relate 
the  part  he  bore  in  the  retreat, 
first  to  the  north  end  of  the  island, 
and  then  to  White  Plains,  the  one 
fact  of  importance  to  our  tale 
being  that  he  left 'behind 
Fairview  not  merely  the 
25 


him 
girl 


5O  Love  Finds  the  Way 

-J 

his  heart,  but  the  por 
trait,  a  full-length   can 
vas  not  being  exactly 
equipage  for  a  soldier  in  an  active 
campaign.     It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
he  paid  the  poor   artist— that  is, 
sign  painter — before  departing." 

"  It's  horrid  for  you  to  say  such 
things,  Harold,  and  I  don't  see 
how  you  can  do  it.  I'm  sure  he 
paid  for  it." 

"Then  he  unquestionably  did, 
though  I  have  known  the  mas 
culine  two  and  twenty  sometimes 


Low  Finds  the  Way 

a    trifle    neglectful    of 
such    little    forms  and 
conventions.   And  now 
that   one  thinks  of   it,    may   not 
that  droop  to  the  mouth  be  due 
to  his  worrying  over  where    on 
earth  he  was  to  get  the  money 
to  pay  for  the  likeness?    Passing 
that    by,   however,  as  irrelevant, 
here   we    have    Dick    himself  in 
Westchester    and    Tick's    portrait 
at  Fairview,  both   unhung,  how 
ever  deserving  thereof  the  former 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"Harold!" 

"You  should  let  me  complete 
my  sentence — however  deserving 
thereof  the  former  was  in  the 
eyes  of  King  George's  cohorts. 
Well,  these  same  British  myrmi 
dons  pursued  the  retreating  Con 
tinentals  into  Westchester,  intent 
upon  putting  an  end  to  resist 
ance,  an  intention  persisted  in 
until  they  came  in  sight  of  the 
position  Washington  had  occu 
pied.  Not  liking  the  look  of  it, 
and  with  a  recol- 
28 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

lection  of  Bunker's  Hill  akin  to 
that  of  the  child  who  has  dis 
covered  by  contact  how  a  hot 
stove  feels,  they  took  counsel 
and  decided  that  there  was  an 
opportunity  for  the  brave  Hes 
sians  and  Anspachers  to  cover 
themselves  with  undying  glory 
and  a  foot  of  top-soil.  Accord 
ingly,  the  German  regiments  were 
ordered  to  assault  and  carry  the 
American  lines,  and  with  alacrity 
and  courage  they  declined  to  rob 

the  British  grena- 

29 


Love  Finds  tbc  Way 

d:::'5  of  such  an  occasion  for 
achieving  fame.  As  this  prudent 
declaration  did  not  tend  to  in 
crease  the  British  liking  for  the 
task,  it  was  abandoned,  and 
their  forces  fell  back  to  Manhat 
tan,  giving  out  in  explanation 
that  those  particular  native  grapes 
were  sour,  and  that  they  never 
had  wanted  them  any  way.  It  is 
a  story  in  the  family  that  when 
one  of  the  British  officers  who 
was  quartered  at  Fairview  bit- 
ingly  remarked  that  he'd 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

like  to  see  the  face  of  Captain 
Goddard,  Miss  Phillis  replied  that 
he  might  have  gratified  his  wish  if 
he  had  taken  the  time  to  look 
behind  him  in  the  retreat,  a  re 
tort  tending  to  prove  that  though 
her  ladyship  might  not  be  willing 
to  surrender  to  Captain  Dick  her 
self,  she  did  not  propose  to  see 
him  the  butt  of  any  one  else. 
There  is  a  curious  distinction  be 
tween  a  man's  and  a  woman's 
love,  in  that  he  knows  himself  to 
be  stricken  with  the  first 
31 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

symptoms  of  the  fever,  but  she 
can  have  the  disease  for  months 
before    she    discovers    what    it 


"Sort  of  walking  typhoid,  eh?" 
suggested  one  of  the  listeners. 

"Much  worse.  Fewer  recov 
eries,"  muttered  the  old  bachelor. 

"Meantime,  while  Miss  Phillis 
was  making  the  mouths  of  the 
British  officers  alternately  water 
and  droop,  as  once  she  had  made 
Dick's—" 

"Then  you  acknowledge  that 
32 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

he  did  pay  the  poor  artist," 
demanded  the  hostess,  trium 
phantly. 

"Is  it  kind  to  call  the  painter 
that,  cousin?  Remember  he  is 
dead." 

"You  know  perfectly  well  that 
I  didn't  mean  any  criticism  on  the 
quality  of  his  work." 

"Then  you  must  have  meant 
that  he  was  poor  in  a  worldly 
sense;  ergo,  it  is  clear  that 
Grandfather  Richard  had  not  paid 
him?"  questioned  the  narrator. 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"  Do  finish  your  story,  Harold," 
was  her  only  retort. 

"  I  should  have  long  since,  but 
for  interruptions.  Howe  and  his 
forces  having  done  their  share  of 
retreating,  it  became  a  question 
in  the  Continental  camp  whether 
the  British  were  going  into  winter 
quarters  at  New  York,  or  whether 
they  were  planning  a  descent 
into  New  Jersey.  Accurate  knowl 
edge  on  this  point  was  of  enor 
mous  importance,  and  the  little 
that  was  obtainable  was  of  the 

34 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

most  conflicting  nature.  Under 
these  circumstances  Captain  Dick 
offered  to  go  into  the  city  to  see 
if  he  could  not  get  the  needed 
information,  and  his  proposition 
was  eagerly  accepted.  The  Amer 
ican  cause  still  had-  friends 
in  the  town  who  could  aid  in 
the  quest,  three  of  whom  were 
named  to  the  young  volunteer, 
and  as  the  British  could  scarce 
ly  guard  the  whole  water  front 
of  the  city,  it  did  not  appear 
a  difficult  task  to  effect  a  land- 
35 


0 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

ing  and    a   communication    with 
them. 

"As  time  was  everything,  Dick 
secured  the  garb  of  a  farmer,  and 
rode  some  twelve  miles  that  after 
noon  to  Morrisania.  One  of  the 
family  after  whom  that  place  was 
named,  being  in  camp,  had  rec 
ommended  to  the  Captain  a  boat 
man  who  could  be  relied  upon, 
and,  as  soon  as  the  darkness  per 
mitted,  they  rowed  out  of  the  Har 
lem  into  the  East  River,  and  pulled 
for  New  York,  expecting  to  reach 
36 


Low  Finds  the  Way 

it  some  time  before  midnight.  To 
their  disappointment,  they  soon 
discovered  that  a  number  of 
British  frigates  and  patrol  boats 
were  in  the  river,  forcing  them 
to  proceed  with  the  utmost 
caution,  and  thus  long  before 
their  destination  was  reached,  the 
tide  turned,  which  meant  more 
delay.  Upon  this  the  boatman 
refused  to  go  farther,  fearing  that 
he  could  not  make  good  his  own 
return  before  daylight,  and  gave 
his  companion  the  choice  of  either 

37 


Lave  Finds  the  Way 

being      landed      where 
they  were,  or  of  return 
ing    with    him.      It     is 
needless  to  say  which  alternative 
he  took,  and,  accordingly,  a  little 
after   three   o'clock    the    Captain 
found  himself  on   the   shores  of 
Manhattan,    with    but    little   far 
ther  knowledge  as  to  his  where 
abouts. 

"Fortunately,  the  barking  of  a 
dog  gave  him   a  little  guidance, 
and  by  this  clue  he  groped   his 
way  through  a  field  or  two,  until 
38 


Lowe  Finds  the  Way 

at    last    he    came   upon 
a  farm  house,  to  which, 
because  of  the  dog  and 
the  unknown   sympathies  of  its 
occupants,  he  gave  a  wide  berth, 
but   by  its   means  was   quickly 
upon  the  King's  Bridge  road,  and 
therefore    upon    familiar    ground. 
Turning  southward    upon   it,  he 
took  as  rapid  a  pace  as  he  dared, 
for,     not     knowing     where     an 
outpost    might    be   placed,  some 
prudence    was    necessary.      The 
wisdom    of   his    precaution    was 

39 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

soon  shown  by  his  coming  in 
sight  of  a  picket  fire  at  the  junc 
tion  with  the  Middle  Road.  Fre 
quent  strolls  during  the  previous 
summer  with — let  us  say,  his  fel 
low  officers— had  made  all  this 
well  known  country  to  him,  and 
he  turned  off  into  a  lane,  and  then 
into  one  branching  from  it,  which 
brought  him,  just  as  the  sky  was 
beginning  to-  redden,  behind  the 
barn  of  Fairview." 

"Oh,  ho  1 "  exclaimed  one  of  the 
masculine  listeners. 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"That's  what  I've  been  hoping 
he'd  do,"  eagerly  cried  a  feminine 
one. 

"  Proceeding  cautiously,  he  stole 
around  the  barn,  and,  wishing  to 
make  sure  of  the  place  of  quick 
retreat  before  venturing  to  the 
house,  he  softly  rolled  back  one 
of  the  barn  doors  until  there  was 
space  enough  for  him  to  enter. 
What  the  growing  light  revealed 
to  him  led  to  a  hasty  retreat,  for 
on  piles  of  hay  spread  on  the 
floor  lay  three  red- 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

coated  troopers,  and  even  as  he 
drew  back  one  of  them  suddenly 
sat  up,  and  looked  about  to  see 
what  had  disturbed  him.  A  large 
chestnut  tree  stood  within  a  few 
feet  of  the  barn,  and  Dick  jumped 
quietly  behind  it,  not  a  moment 
too  soon,  for  the  cavalryman  ap 
peared  at  the  door  and  looked 
out,  while  he  tried  to  rub  the 
sleep  from  his  eyes.  Seeing 
nothing,  and  too  stupid  still  to 
draw  any  inference  from  the 
change  in  the  door,  he 
42 


Dick  turned  and  took  £htiss  PhUlis's  hand  and  kissed 

it.'  " 

(Page  86) 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

muttered  a  curse,  and  went  back 
to  his  hay.  Waiting  a  little  for 
safety,  the  Captain  left  his  con 
cealment,  and  keeping  out  of  the 
range  of  the  crack,  and  using 
every  bit  of  cover  that  he  could, 
he  sneaked  his  way  to  the  house. 
It  was  now  almost  daylight  and 
every  moment  was  making  his 
situation  more  perilous.  Hoping 
to  gain  aid  from  within,  and 
knowing  that  the  servants  would 
be  first  stirring,  he  went  to  the 
kitchen,  and  peeped  in 

43 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

at  one  of  the  windows.  Here, 
again,  he  was  doomed  to  disap 
pointment,  for  he  could  see  by 
the  light  of  the  mouldering  logs 
in  the  fireplace  more  sleeping 
figures  stretched  on  the  floor. 

"Oftentimes  our  luckiest  ac 
tions  are  forced  upon  us,  and  so 
it  proved  in  this  case.  While 
Goddard  momentarily  debated 
what  it  was  best  to  do,  the 
sound  of  the  barn  doors  being 
rolled  open  attracted  his  atten 
tion,  and  there  issued  forth  one  of 

44 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

the  troopers,  leading  a  horse. 
He  was  followed  by  a  second 
and  then  a  third  one,  each  with 
a  horse,  and  then  all  took  their 
way  to  the  watering  trough, 
which  was  in  plain  view  of  the 
house.  Our  Captain  at  the  first 
warning  had  placed  himself  be 
hind  the  vines  growing  about 
the  kitchen  porch,  this  being  the 
only  cover  at  hand,  and  here  he 
stood,  though  wishing  that  he 
had  sought  concealment  in  the 
orchards  or  elsewhere,  and  trust- 

45 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

ing  that  they  would  presently 
return  to  the  barn  and  give  him 
a  chance  to  escape.  Even  this 
hope  was  quickly  killed,  for,  as 
the  horses  drank,  one  of  the 
men  put  a  bugle  to  his  lips  and 
there  came  across  the  lawn  the 
notes  to  which  soldiers  have  put 
the  words: 


'  \  can't  get  'em  up, 
I  can't  get  'em  up, 
I  can't  get  'em  up  in  the  morning. 
I  can't  get  'em  up, 
I  can't  get  'em  up, 
I  can't  get  'em  up  at  all.' 
46 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"As  if  echoing  a  disproof,  the 
Captain  heard  sounds  which  in 
dicated  that  those  within  were 
sfirring,  and  he  knew  that  the 
protecting  vines,  which  the 
autumn  frosts  had  almost  stripped 
of  their  leaves,  would  be  no  con 
cealment  from  any  one  coming 
on  to  the  porch.  For  an  instant 
he  balanced  either  a  run  for  it 
or  boldly  joining  the  men  at  the 
trough ;  then  as  the  best,  he  put 
his  foot  on  the  lattice  and  as 
quickly  as  he  could  climbed  to 

47 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

the  roof  of  the  porch.  Here,  by 
lying  down,  he  could  almost  con 
ceal  himself  from  view.  This  he 
effected,  and  none  too  soon,  for 
barely  was  he  placed,  when  he 
heard  the  kitchen  door  open,  and 
footsteps  below  him,  sounds 
which  turned  the  eyes  of  those 
at  the  trough  towards  the  house, 
and,  as  he  could  see  them  plainly, 
he  realised  that  if  their  attention 
was  not  fixed  on  their  fellow 
troopers,  a  little  lifting  of  their 
eyes  would  reveal  him  to  them. 
48 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

Fortunately  for  him,  the  two 
groups  began  to  gird  at  each 
other,  as  those  below  left  the 
porch  and  walked  toward  their 
fellows.  The  newcomers  after  a 
moment's  pause  with  their  fel 
lows  continued  on  to  the  barn, 
evidently  to  get  their  own  charg 
ers,  and  those  at  the  trough  faced 
about  to  continue  the  vocal  spar 
ring. 

"It  was  the  Captain's  one 
chance,  and,  getting  on  his  knees, 
he  tried  the  window,  which,  to 

49 


his  relief,  he  found  was 
unfastened.  Not  losing 
an  instant,  he  raised  it 
enough  to  gain  entrance,  and 
crawled  in.  Turning,  he  closed 
the  window,  at  the  same  time 
looking  to  see  if  the  dragoons 
had  discovered  him,  and.  he 
breathed  easier  when  he  saw 
them  still  intent  on  their  various 
occupations. 

"Safe   for  the    time  being,   or 
at  least  out  of  his  worst    peril, 
Captain    Dick   turned   about.    A 
50 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

big  four-post  bedstead, 
with  the  curtains  still  but 
toned  together,  warned 
him  that  the  bed  was  prob 
ably  still  occupied,  and  two 
pairs  of  heavy  riding  boots  on 
the  floor,  and  sundry  parts 
of  uniforms  thrown  on  chairs, 
only  served  to  assure  him  that 
he  had  but  changed,  and  not  es 
caped  the  dangers  that  beset  him. 
"Ms  that  you,  McCoy?'  asked 
a  sleepy  voice  from  behind  the 
curtains. 


Love  Finds  tbe  Way 

"Close  to  the  window  by 
which  he  had  entered  was  a 
)  door,  and,  as  his  one  chance, 
Dick  softly  opened  it  and  slipped 
through,  to  find  himself  in  a 
closet  redolent  of  lavender. 

"'Is  that  you,  McCoy?'  again 
demanded  the  voice. 

" '  What  the  deuce  is  the  row  ? ' 
asked  a  second  voice,  crossly. 

"'I  thought  I   heard  some  one 
in  the  room,  man.' 

"'It    was    your    own    infernal 
snoring,   I'll    be 
52 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

bound.  Devil  seize  me,  what  a 
sweet  thing  life  would  be  if  there 
was  no  going  to  bed  and  no 
getting  up.' 

"Well.  More  grumbling  fol 
lowed,  and  then  the  two  finally 
set  on  to  dressing,  no  detail  of 
which  is  worth  mention  save 
the  circumstance  that  in  pulling 
on  his  boots  one  of  the  officers,  by 
ill  luck,  chose  to  lean  against  the 
closet  door,  which  promptly  closed 
tight,  and  latched  itself.  At  the 
moment  Captain 


& 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

Dick  gave  the  tell-tale  click  no 
thought,  but  when  the  men  finally 
left  the  room,  and  he  ran  his  hand 
up  and  down  the  door,  to  find  only 
a  smooth  surface,  he  realised  that 
by  that  small  accident  he  had 
been  made  a  -prisoner.  It  is  true 
that  probably  he  could,  by  brac 
ing  himself,  force  the  latch,  but 
on  consideration  he  preferred  not 
to  risk  the  noise  of  it,  preferring  to 
wait  the  coming  of  one  of  the  ser 
vants,  knowing  for  certain  that  he 
could  trust  any  of  them  to 
54 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

release  him  quietly,  and  to  aid  him 
in  every  possible  way.  So  like  a 
philosopher  he  settled  himself  on 
the  floor  in  the  most  restful  attitude 
he  could  compass,  and  waited. 

"  It  seemed  to  him  ages  elapsed 
before  any  one  entered  the  room, 
and,  when  at  last  some  one  did, 
it  brought  only  disappointment 
to  the  prisoner,  for  the  heavy 
stride  bespoke  a  man.  He  was 
followed  presently  by  one  of  the 
maids,  and  the  poor  Captain  was 
forced  to  listen  to  a  half- 


V> 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

bantering,  half-gallant  conver 
sation  as  one  made  the  beds  and 
tidied  the  room  and  the  other 
polished  the  swords  and  buckles  ; 
and  apparently  this  semi-flirtation 
greatly  lengthened  the  dual  tasks. 
Finally  the  maid  completed  her 
duties  and  departed  to  an 
other  room,  and  then  all  the 
sounds  that  came  to  the  hungry, 
sleepy  and  tired  man  was  the 
faint  rubbing  of  brushes  or 
chamois. 
.  "Suddenly  he  sat  up  from  his 


Love  Finds  tbc  Way 

recumbent  position  against 
the  wall,  with  a  consciousness 
that  he  had  been  asleep,  but  for 
how  long  he  had  not  the  slight 
est  idea.  For  a  moment  he  was 
too  dazed  to  remember  his 
whereabouts,  but  in  a  flash  it 
came  back,  and  he  listened. 

"'Capotted,     by     George,'    he 
heard  a  man  say. 

'"Damn    the    luck,'    muttered 
another,  and    then   followed  the 
clink    of    coins.      'For    heaven's 
sake,  man,  do  deal  faster.' 
57 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"A  pause  ensued,  and  then: 

'"Seven  in  suit.' 

"'Good.' 

'"And  a  sixieme.' 

'"Good,  curse  it.' 

'"And  three  aces.' 

'"Not  good.' 

" '  Seven  and  sixteen  are  twenty- 
three,  and  nine  cards  and  a  card 
played  are  thirty  -  three  —  Forty- 
three  I  score,  and— Hallo!  What 
brings  you,  Howgate?' 

'"Orders  from  headquarters/ 
replied  a  new  voice.  'The  regi- 
58 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

ment    is    to    muster    to-morrow 
morning  before  daylight.' 

"'What's  in  the  wind?' 

'"Headquarters  don't  tell,  but 
as  similar  orders  have  been  issued 
to  seven  other  regiments,  and  as 
we  are  to  embark  our  horses,  'tis 
evident  the  Jerseys  are  to  be  in 
vaded.' 

" '  Ten  guineas  that  we  eat  our 
Christmas  dinner  in  Philadelphia,' 
offered  one  of  the  card  players. 

" '  If  we  don't  meet  with  a  sec 
ond  White  Plains.' 
59 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

" '  Tis  on  that  very  fact  I  base 
my  offer.  With  Washington  in 
Westchester  we  can  be  well  across 
the  Delaware  before  he  so  much 
as  knows  we've  started/ 

"As  can  be  imagined,  this  was 
news  to  the  Captain,  which  set 
him  to  alternately  blessing  his 
stars — that  he  should  have  been 
in  a  position  to  hear  it — and  to 
cursing  them — that  that  same  po 
sition  allowed  him  to  put  his 
knowledge  to  such  little  use.  Af 
ter  some  more  talk,  needless  here 
60 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

to  repeat,  the  officer  who  had 
brought  the  order  departed,  and 
the  two  resumed  their  card  play 
ing,  to  the  disgust  of  the  prisoner, 
who  fretted  and  fumed  as  he  was 
forced  to  listen  to  the  monotonous 
declarations  and  countings,  varied 
only  by  the  chink  of  coin  or  the 
exclamation  of  joy  or  anger  at 
some  particular  piece  of  luck,  either 
good  or  bad.  Having  no  idea 
how  long  he  had  slept,  he  could 
form  no  conclusion  as  to  the 
probable  time,  save  by  the  fact 

61 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

that  the  air  of  the  closet 
was  becoming  well-nigh 
insupportable.    Yet  there 
was    nothing   to    do   but  submit 
to  the  enforced  imprisonment  and 
suffocating  atmosphere,  for  a  dis 
covery  was   certain   but  to  make 
the    former    more    serious,    and 
probably    only   terminated    by  a 
suffocation  absolutely  fatal. 

"  At  last  a  bell,  which  the  Cap 
tain  recognised  as  that  rung  for 
meals,  sounded,  putting  a  finish 
to  the  cards  and  drawing  the  play- 
62 


Lave  Finds  the  Way 

ers  downstairs.  Ere  the 
tramp  of  their  boots  had 
sounded  through  the 
lower  hall,  Goddard  had  his 
back  braced  against  the  wall,  and 
one  foot  on  the  door,  but  then 
faltered  and  waited,  for  he  knew 
that  he  could  not  force  his  way 
out  without  noise,  so  he  con 
cluded  to  let  them  get  well  started 
in  their  eating  and  drinking  before 
he  made  the  attempt,  knowing 
full  well  that  few  things  are  so 
engrossing  to  human  kind. 
63 


c  Finds  the  Way 

"To  make  sure  that  his  own 
eagerness  should  not  get  the  bet 
ter  of  his  prudence,  he  slowly 
counted  two  hundred,  then  braced 
himself  and  pushed  on  the  door, 
slowly  increasing  the  pressure. 
One  foot  proving  unequal  to  the 
purpose,  he  added  the  second  one. 
This  proved  too  much  for  the 
stout  ash,  and,  though  the  heavy 
latch  and  hinges  held  firm,  the 
whole  centre  of  the  door,  both 
cross  and  panels,  suddenly  gave 
way  with  a  crash, 


'Then  the  girl's  head  dropped  on  Dick's  shoulder,  and  lie 

put  his  arms  about  her. ' ' 

(Page  95) 


I 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

which  to  Dick  sounded  as  if  the 
whole  house  were  coming  down 
about  his  ears. 

"As  the  wood  caved  outward, 
the  Captain  went  to  the  floor  none 
too  lightly.  Without  stopping  to 
pick  himself  up,  he  crawled 
through  the  outlet.  In  the  closet 
he  had  planned  out  exactly  what 
course  to  pursue.  If  a  glance  out 
of  the  window  showed  him  a 
clear  field,  he  intended  to  descend 
as  he  had  come,  and  to  trust  to 
the  fleetness  of 

65 
I 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

his  legs  and  the  nearness  of  the 
orchards  and  woods  in  making  a 
run  for  it ;  but  if  he  saw  that  the 
dragoons  still  blocked  that  road 
to  liberty,  then  he  hoped  to  con 
ceal,  but  not  imprison  himself  in 
one  of  the  adjoining  rooms,  and 
to  bide  a  chance  for  actual  es 
cape,  either  with  or  without  the 
aid  of  his  relations. 

"  In  these  carefully  thought  out 
plans,  the  Captain  had  failed  to 
take  one  possibility  into  account, 
and  so  he  was  very  much 

66 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

taken  back  to  find  that  he  had 
crawled  into  an  absolutely  dark 
room,  and  that  out  of  doors  was 
equally  dark.  He  had  slept  dur 
ing  the  noon-tide  meal  and  that 
now  being  discussed  was  supper. 
"Few  minds  act  to  advantage 
when  suddenly  surprised,  and 
that  of  the  Captain  led  him  to  do 
what  was  probably  the  poorest 
thing  he  could  do.  Quite  ignor 
ing  the  fact  that  if  the  darkness 
would  conceal  him,  it  would  also 
conceal  whatever  danger 


1 


Lave  Finds  the  Way 

there  might  be,  he  carried  out 
his  first  intention,  and  raising 
the  window,  he  stepped  out  on 
the  roof  of  the  porch.  He  had 
barely  done  so  when  he  became 
conscious  of  men's  voices  below 
him,  and  he  realised  that  an  un 
known  number  of  people  were 
standing  or  sitting  on  the  porch. 
Barely  was  he  assured  of  this, 
when  his  ears  were  greeted  with 
the  demand  from  below : 
" '  Hello !  Who's  above  there  ? ' 
"As  quietly  as  was  possible 


u  /, 

Love  Finds  the  Way 

with  quickness,  Dick  stepped 
back  through  the  window,  and 
went  groping  his  way  across  the 
room.  He  had  lost  precious  time, 
however,  for  as  he  put  his  hand 
on  the  latch  of  the  door,  he  heard 
steps  outside  in  the  hall.  None 
the  less  he  opened  it  just  enough 
to  look  out.  What  first  caught  his 
eye  was  the  flickering  light  of  a 
candle,  carried  by  one  of  the  negro 
servants  of  his  uncle,  but  its  light 
also  served  to  reveal  the  unwel 
come  presence  of  two  troopers, 
69 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

one  standing  at  the  head  of  the 
stairs,  and  the  second  close  be 
hind  the  negress. 

"'What  is  it,  Boggs?'  enquired 
some  one  on  the  floor  below. 

" '  Devil  burn  me,  if  1  know 
what  it  was,  Captain,'  one  of  the 
men  replied,  'but  it  sounded  for 
all  the  world  like  a  twelve-pound 
shot  tearing  its  way  through  a 
partition.' 

" '  Never  mind  what  it  sounded 
like.  Look  about  and  see  what 
'twas.' 

70 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"'Very  good,  sir.' 

" '  Oh,  Massa  Soldier,  you  don't 
tink  it  was  no  sperit?'  questioned 
the  negress,  while  she  glanced 
about  apprehensively. 

"'Twas  a  mighty  solid  one,  if 
it  was/  laughed  the  dragoon. 
'We'll  look  in  here  first,'  he  sug 
gested,  making  a  motion  toward 
the  door  of  the  room  opposite 
the  one  in  which  they  stood. 
'Give  me  the  candle.' 

'"For  the  lub  of  Heaben,  don't 
take  de  light  away.  Dey  say 
71 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

de  debil  dun  fly  off  with  folks 
sometimes,'  whimpered  the  wo 
man. 

"'Nonsense ! '  growled  the  man, 
and  catching  the  candle  from  her 
hand,  he  disappeared  through  the 
doorway,  leaving  the  hall  in  al 
most  total  darkness. 

"  It  was  the  condition  for  which 
Goddard  had  been  hoping,  and 
he  stole  through  the  doorway 
and  on  tip-toe  groped  his  way 
towards  the  stairs,  intending  to 
take  the  soldier  who  stood  at  its 
72 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

head  by  surprise,  and  then  to 
make  a  dash  for  it.  Unfor 
tunately,  the  negress,  in  terror  of 
the  darkness,  was  seeking  to  es 
cape  from  the  upper  hall,  and  so 
the  two  came  into  violent  col 
lision.  This  drew  from  her  a 
series  of  ear-splitting  shrieks,  and 
a  clutch  at  the  Captain's  arm  so 
desperate  that  it  took  all  his 
strength  to  free  himself.  Just  as 
he  broke  loose  from  it,  the  hall 
was  lighted  up  by  the  return  of  the 
trooper,  with  the  candle,  from  the 

73 


Lave  Finds  the  Way 

bedroom,  which  revealed 
the  dragoon  still  standing 
at  the  head  of  the  stairs. 
"'We    have    him,'    he    called, 
and  the  second   shouted,  'Here's 
the  thief.' 

"Quick  as  a  flash  the  Captain 
sprang  back  towards  the  man 
with  the  light,  and  with  a  sweep 
of  his  arm  sent  the  candlestick 
flying  from  his  hand ;  this  done, 
he  dodged  sideways  as  far  as  the 
wall  would  let  him,  and  then 
pressing  as  flat  against  it  as  he 

74 


Love  Finds  tbe  Way  \ 

could,  he  edged  along 
it  till  he  reached  the 
end  of  the  baluster. 
Guided  by  this,  he  moved  rap 
idly  to  the  head  of  the  stairs, 
where  he  was. forced  to  halt  a 
moment  to  find  out  the  position 
of  the  trooper. 

"He  who  had  held  the  candle 
was  expressing  his  opinion  in 
unmeasured  Anglo-Saxon,  and 
warning  his  companion  to  look 
sharp. 

" '  Look  sharp  ! '  replied  the  sol- 

75 


"    i  R 

^NiWfTT       .  -^ 

'^^fl^o^ 

^pf^ 


, 


-^m 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

dier,  so  near  the  fugitive  that  it 
made  him  jump.  '  Nice  advice 
after  you  letting  the  rogue— 

"There  Goddard's  fist,  full  in 
the  face,  cut  short  the  speech,  and 
sent  the  fellow  rolling  downstairs ; 
and  his  assailant  followed  almost 
as  rapidly.  Before  the  bottom 
was  reached  candles  lighted  the 
lower  hall,  and  Dick  saw  that 
if  he  continued  it  would  only  be 
to  rush  into  the  arms  of  three 
officers.  Turning,  with  the  in 
tention  of  retrac- 
76 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

ing  his  steps,  he  found  the  soldier 
awaiting  him  above.  One  glance 
showed  him  the  cause  was  up, 
and  with  coolness  and  good 
sense  he  calmly  sat  down  on  a 
step. 

'"What  is  it?  What  is  it?' 
Phillis's  voice  asked,  and  at  the 
same  instant  she  and  her  father 
appeared  beside  the  officers. 

"  His  moment  to  collect  himself 
served  the  Captain  in  good  stead, 
for  he  had  gathered  his  wits  to 
gether,  and  now, 

177 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

before  either  of  his  relatives  had 
so  much  as  seen,  much  more  rec 
ognized  him,  he  said, '  Oh,  please, 
sir,  Squire  Goelet,  things  look  agin 
me,  but  1  swow  I  didn't  come  to 
thieve,  but  only  to  ask  a  favour  of 
you,  an'  as  you  wuz  at  supper, 
Fanny  told  me  to  go  right  up  and 
get  what  I  wanted,  and  I  hope, 
sir,  that  I  didn't  do  wrong,  sir, 
and  that  if  I  did,  you'll  forgive  me, 
for  really,  Squire,  I  didn't  intend 
no  offence.'  Goddard  purposely 
kept  on  talking,  first  to 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

cover  the  very  natural  exclama 
tions  of  surprise  which. both  Mr. 
Goelet  and  his  daughter  uttered  at 
hearing  his  voice,  and  then  to  give 
them  time  to  recover  themselves. 
And  as! he  spoke,  he  rose  and 
slowly  descended  the  .  stairs. 
'  Don't  you  know  me — Josh 
Riley  —  Squire?'  he  ended,  as 
he  .reached  the  bottom  of  the 
flight. 

"'Whoever    you   are,'   growled 

the  soldier,  holding  his  jaw  with 

one  hand  and  feeling  his 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

shoulder  with  the  other, '  What 
do  you  mean  by— 

" '  Silence ! '  ordered  one  of  the 
officers.  'Do  you  know  this  fel 
low?'  he  asked  of  Mr.  Goelet. 

"'Yes,  yes/  broke  in  Phillis, 
with  her  hand  on  her  father's 
arm.  'It's  just  as  he  says.  He's 
Josh  Riley.' 

'"And  what  were  you  doing 
upstairs?'  demanded  the  officer. 

'"I   own   it  wuzn't  with  per 
mission,'  said  Dick,  with  a  cring 
ing    manner,    'but     fmdin'    the 
80 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

Squire  wuz  at  supper,  I  put 
it  to  Fanny  if  I  should  disturb 
him,  and  she  said  to  go  right 
up.' 

'"What  for?'  persisted  the  ques 
tioner. 

"'Why  for  the  medicine,  Ku- 
nel/  explained  Dick,  finding  an 
explanation  just  as  he  needed  it. 

'"And  did  you  get  it,  Joshua?' 
asked  Phillis. 

"'No,  Miss  Phillis.  It  wuz 
dark,  an'  I  went  kerplump  into 
suthin,  and  made  such  a  tarnel 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

racket  I  thought  the  house  wuz 
comin'  down.  An'  then  I  heard 
folks  a  comin',  an'  thought  I'd 
made  too  free  perhaps,  and  so  I 
tried  to  sneak  out,  and  then  I 
ran  into  Dinah,  and  she  set  up 
sech  a  screechin'  that  I  clean 
went  off  my  head,  and  in  tryin' 
to  get  away  I  knocked  the  light 
out  of  the  snoger's  hand  and 
hit  this  one  a  clip  in  the  jaw. 
'Deed,  I'm  sorry,  Squire,  and  Mr. 
Officers,  and  1  hope  you  won't 
hold  it  up  agin  me.' 
82 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"'Of  course,  you  won't  will 
you,  Father ! '  remarked  Phillis. 

'"Why,  certainly  not,  Joshua. 
Come  with  me,  and  ye  shall 
drink  a  glass  of  Madeira,  and 
then  ye  shall  have  any  medicine 
I  can  give  ye.' 

"A  general  move  to  the  dining- 
room  fo'llowed,  Dick  fairly  hug 
ging  himself  over  the  success  of 
his  finesse.  Once  there,  as  the 
officers  resumed  their  seats,  the 
host  filled  a  glass  from  the  decan 
ter,  and  presented  it  to  Goddard. 
83 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"'I'll  get  the  medicine  while 
you  drink,'  offered  Phillis.  'I 
hope  your  little  brother  isn't  any 
worse  ? ' 

"'Thank  'ee,  Miss,  and  may 
)  you  be  rewarded  as  you  deserve. 
He's  about  the  same/ 

"While  they  were  exchanging 
these  remarks,  one  of  the  officers 
rose,  and  went  to  the  hall  door. 
From  that  coign  of  vantage  he  said: 
'  I  believe,  I  am  not  mistaken 
in  thinking  we  are  honoured  with 
the  presence  of  Captain  Goddard.' 
84 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"  'What  the  deuce  do  you  mean?' 
demanded  a  fellow  officer. 

"'If  you'll  compare  the  portrait 
in  the  next  room  with  Mr.  Joshua 
Riley,  I  don't  think  you'll  remain 
in  doubt.' 

'"What?  Ho!  A  good  match 
ing  of  the  cards,  Lieutenant.' 

"  Goddard  drew  a  long  breath. 
'Well,  gentlemen,'  he  said,  'as  you 
will  have  me  an  officer,  pray  treat 
me  as  one.  1  have  not  tasted  food 
or  drink  since  yesterday  at  four. 
May  I  satisfy  nature  a  little,  now 
85 


. 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

that  the  game  is  up?    1 
pledge  you  my  word  to 
make  no  attempt  to  es 
cape  while  I  eat.' 

"'Aye,  sit  down,  man,  and  eat 
your  fill,'  cried  the  commander, 
'and  sorry  1  am  for  you.' 

"Dick  turned  and  took  Miss 
Phillis's  hand  and  kissed  it.  'I'm 
glad  that  you  are  at  the  end  of 
it,'  he  said. 

"'What  end?'  enquired  the  girl, 
innocently. 

" '  Of  my  capture,'  replied  Dick, 

86 


" '  The  picture  of  the   Captain    .    .    .  hastily  cut  from  its 

" 

(Page  101) 


choke. 

Then  he  took  his  seat, 
only  to  find  that  the 
thirst  and  hunger  which  had  so 
tormented  him  in  the  closet  were 
things  of  the  past.  He  tried  to  eat, 
but  each  mouthful  nearly  strangled 
him. 

"A  strange  quiet,  full  of  sig 
nificance,  had  come  over  ev 
ery  one,  finally  broken  by  Mr. 
Goelet  whispering  a  couple  of 
questions  to  the  man  on  his 
right. 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

" '  Nothing,'  the  latter  said  aloud, 
after  a  shake  of  the  head. 

'"Not  even  Sir  William?' 

"'No.     It's  too  plain  a  case.' 

'"Case  of  what?'  asked  Phillis, 
suspiciously. 

" '  Nothing,  my  dear,'  replied  her 
father,  gently,  but  she  sav/  the 
tears  in  his  eyes. 

" ' Father,  what  is  it?'  she  cried. 
'Dick,  you  will  tell  me,'  she  ap 
pealed. 

"Twice  the  Captain  tried  to 
speak,  and  twice 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

he  failed ;  finally  he  turned  to 
Mr.  Goelet.  'For  God's  sake, 
uncle,  tell  her,'  he  begged. 

"'Come  with  me,  Phillis,'  said 
her  father,  rising  and  going  to 
the  door  which  opened  into  the 
parlour. 

"  As  Phillis  was  about  to  follow, 
she  halted,  and  spoke,  'You  will 
not  take  my  cousin  away  to  prison 
before  I  return,  will  you,  Major 
Sutherland?' 

'"Certainly  not,  Miss  Goelet. 
I'll  promise  that 
89 


Love  Finds  tbe  Way 

you  have  speech  with  him  before 
sending  him  to  the  Provost.' 

"After  the  two  were  gone,  the 
Major  whispered  some  orders  to 
one  of  the  officers,  and  he,  too, 
left  the  room.  Before  long  he  re 
turned  with  two  troopers  and  re 
ported  that  horses  were  saddled 
and  an  escort  waiting. 

" '  That  is  all,  Lieutenant.  I  shall 
ride  to  the  Provost  myself,  and 
then  report  the  capture  to  Sir  Wil 
liam.  Will  you  tell  Miss  Goelet  that 
we  must  be  moving?' 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"  Even  as  he  spoke,  Mr.  Goelet 
re-entered  the  room,  and  the 
Major  repeated  his  request  to 
him. 

" '  My  daughter,  sir,  is  naturally 
very  much  upset  by  the  terrible 
news  I  was  compelled  to  break 
to  her,  and  she  begs  you  to 
give  her  a  few  moments  to  re 
cover  herself.  Surely  five  min 
utes  is  little  to  ask  for  in  such 
a  matter?' 

'"True,  Mr.  Goelet,  and  I  would 
I  might  grant  more  than 


X 


Lofve  Finds  the  Way 

that.     Tell  her  that  her  wish  is 
a  command  to  me.' 

"  Once  more  Mr.  Goelet  returned 
to  the  parlour,  and  once  more 
the  men  in  the  dining  room  re 
lapsed  into  moody  silence.  It 
was  a  woman's — that  is,  a  long 
— five  minutes  they  had  to  wait, 
but  at  last,  the  girl,  looking  very 
white,  but  also  contained,  opened 
the  door  of  the  parlour.  She 
came  no  farther,  but  from  that 
point  she  said, 

"'  Major  Sutherland,  1  have  one 
92 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

more    request    to    make,   and 
one  that  I  implore  you  to  grant.' 
"'But  name  it,  Miss  Goelet.' 
" '  There  was  more  between  my 
cousin  Richard  and  myself  than 
the    world    had    knowledge    of, 
and  I  pray  of  you  that   we  may 
say  a  farewell  to  each  other  in 
this  room,  out  of  hearing  of  all 
but  ourselves.' 

'"It  is  granted,'  assented  the 
commander,  'but  I  must  first 
place  a  man  outside  the  window 
and  door  that— 

93 


Lcroc  Finds  the  Way 

" '  Tis  needless,  sir,  for  we 
will  not  close  the  door,  and  will 
stand  in  clear  sight  during  the 
whole  interview,'  cried  Phillis. 
'Oh,  sir,  do  not  prolong  my 
misery.' 

'"Forgive  me,  but  I  must  take 
precautions,  Miss  Goelet.  How 
ever,  this  will  do,  if  you  go 
not  out  of  our  observation,'  he 
added,  as,  entering  the  parlour, 
he  bolted  the  window,  and  lock 
ing  the  door  into  the  hall,  put 
the  key  into  his  pocket.  Leav- 

94 


Lrcc  Finds  the  Way 

ing  her,  he  returned  to  the 
dining  room,  and  said  to  Dick. 
'You  must  take  your  farewell 
now,  sir,'  and  then  took  a  place 
at  the  table  from  which  he  could 
watch  the  girl,  who  was  now 
standing  beside  the  mantel. 

"The  Captain  bowed  his  thanks, 
too  deeply  moved  to  speak,  and 
went  to  his  love.  The  Major 
saw  him  take  her  hand,  and  so 
they  stood  for  a  moment ;  then 
the  girl's  head  dropped  on  Dick's 
shoulder,  and  he  put  his  arms 
95 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

about  her.  Ashamed  to  watch, 
the  Major  raised  his  glass  and, 
as  he  drank,  looked  at  the  ceil 
ing.  When  his  head  and  eyes 
resumed  their  normal  position, 
he  saw  that  the  only  change  that 
had  taken  place  in  their  position 
was  that  now  Miss  Goelet's 
back  was  turned  to  him,  though 
her  head  still  lay  on  Goddard's 
shoulder.  With  an  imprecation 
on  the  duties  of  soldiering,  the 
officer  reached  out  and  refilled  his 
glass  from  the  decanter. 
96 


Love  Finds  tbe  Way 

"An  ear-rending  scream  from 
the  kitchen,  followed  by  loud 
voices,  broke  on  the  quiet,  and 
there  appeared  in  the  doorway 
one  of  the  negro  servants. 

"Massa  Goelet,  woon  youse 
tell  dese  wuthless  dragoons  ter 
behave?  Massa  Officer,  dey  jes 
drive  poor  Dinah  mos  'stracted.' 

"'What's  the  matter?'  ques 
tioned  Sutherland. 

"'Mattah?  Deyse  jis  all  over 
everyting — Deyse — ' 

"'Look  to    it,  Lieutenant,'    or- 

97 


Love  Finds  the  Way 
dered    the    Major,    'and 


see  that  the  men  be 
have  themselves.'  Sud 
denly  realizing  that  he  was 
looking  towards  the  kitchen,  he 
turned  and  glanced  into  the  par 
lour,  to  find  the  lovers  still 
standing  as  they  had  been  before 
the  interruption.  Coming  back  to 
his  first  intention,  he  drank  off  his 
wine,  and  setting  the  glass  down 
rose  as  he  did  so.  '  I  don't  wish 
to  be  cruel,  Captain  Goddard,'  he 
said,  'but  time  presses,  and— 
98 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

"'Just  a  minute  more,' 
broke  in   Phillis's  voice, 
and    the    Major    settled 
back  into  his  seat,  and  once  again 
filled    and    slowly    emptied    his 
glass. 

'"I'll  have  up  another  bottle, 
Major,'  suggested  Mr.  Goelet. 

'"Not  for  me,  thank  you,  for 
I  must  be  in  the  saddle  and 
attending  to  this  wretched  busi 
ness,'  replied  the  officer  as  he 
pushed  his  chair  back,  and 
walked  to  the  parlour  doorway. 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

'I   must  ask  you  to  come  now, 
Captain,'  he  said. 

"The  pair  remained  motionless, 
and  again  Sutherland  started  to 
repeat  his  request.  Before  it  was 
half  uttered,  he  sprang  forward, 
only  to  find  Phillis  with  her 
arms  about  the  picture  of  the 
Captain,  which  had  been  hastily 
cut  from  its  frame,  while  the 
open  window,  hitherto  concealed 
from  him  by  the  chimney  breast, 
told  an  equally  plain  story.  The 
whole  thing  had 


IOO 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

been  planned  out  before  her  re 
turn  to  the  dining-room,  the  pic 
ture  cut  from  its  background  with 
a  knife,  rolled  up  and  put  on  the 
mantel,  and  Dinah  instructed  to 
create  the  diversion  she  so  suc 
cessfully  did,  during  which,  of 
course,  Master  Dick  was  whisked 
behind  the  chimney  breast  where 
he  could  unbolt  and  raise  the 
window,  while  Miss  Phillis  raised 
his  canvas  simulation  to  her 
heart.  And  so  now  you  have 
the  story  of  those 


101 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

humpy  lines  in  the  portrait,  and 
my  only  wonder  is  that  they 
don't  show  more." 

"And  did  he  escape?"  asked 
some  one  of  the  house  party. 

"'Did  he  escape?'  What  a 
question  to  askl  Do  you  sup 
pose  he  could  be  recaptured 
after  all  that?  No,  he  safely 
reached  Washington's  camp  with 
his  information,  of  course.  The 
Continental  army  was  shifted  at 
once  to  New  Jersey,  held  the 
British  in  check  as  long 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

as  it  could,  and  finally,  at  Trenton 
and  Princeton,  saved  our  nation." 

"And  did  Phillis  and  he 
marry?"  asked  a  feminine  listener. 

"  Of  course,  again  I  Don't  you 
know  that  her  saving  him  in 
that  way,  according  to  all  the 
rules  of  romance,  was  the  next 
thing  to  a  clergyman  and  a 
ring?" 

"  How    delightful    to    have    a 

portrait    with    such    a  history  1" 

sighed  a  sentimental   maiden    of 

nameless  years.     "I 


103 


S3^ 

ii 


V 


- 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

should    think    you'd     be    so 
proud  of  your  ancestor,  Mrs.  God- 
dard." 

"I  always  have  been,"  acceded 
the  hostess. 

"And  from  to-night  I  think  my 
cousin  will  be  prouder  than  ever, 
I  predict,"  asserted  the  story  teller, 
"because  much  of  this  was  new 
to  her,  and  I  think  she  ought  to 
thank  me  for  grubbing  it  out  of 
musty  old  papers." 

"But  I  say,"  remarked   one  of 
the  older  men,  "  that  English  ma- 
104 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

jor  was  five  kinds  of  a  fool,  it 
seems  to  me." 

"I  think  he  was  fairly  typical 
of  the  British  officer,"  agreed  the 
story  teller. 

"  And  do  you  mean  to  say  that 
he  could  mistake  the  portrait  for 
the  prisoner,  with  the  one  in  full 
uniform  and  three-cornered  hat, 
and  the  other  in  farmer's  clothes, 
and  I  presume,  from  what  he  had 
gone  through,  bareheaded?"  de 
manded  an  objector. 

"You  are  one  of  the  fellows 
105 


-•A 


I. 


Lowe  Finds  the  Way 

whom  it  is  impossible  to  please," 
protested  Mr.  Goddard.  "  I've  told 
you  the  story ;  now  why  do  you 
want  to  pick  holes  in  it?" 

"But  it's  impossible  to  believe 
that  he—" 

"Oh,  dear,  here's  another  one. 
You  wanted  a  story,  and  I've  done 
my  best.  If  you  had  asked  for  his 
tory,  I'd  have  taken  down  one  of 
the  reports  of  the  Historical  Man 
uscripts  Commission,  over  there, 
and  read  aloud  to  you  a  series  of 
documents.  But  that  isn't  what 
106 


Love  Finds  the  Way 

you,  or  the  public  want,  and  you 
know  it.  An  ox  team  couldn't 
drag  either  of  you  to  spend  an 
hour  on  such  a  book,  'Tell  us 
a  story,'  you  beg,  Mn  which  the 
daring  hero  gets  idiotically  into 
the  most  desperate  of  dangers, 
and  just  as  everything  is  lost,  let 
the  brave  and  beautiful  heroine 
save  him  by  some  wonderful  de 
vice,  and  let  him  save  the  coun 
try,  and  when  the  dove  of  peace 
appears  with  the  olive  branch, 
which  but  for  these  twain  would 
107 


Lcrce  Finds  the  Way 

never  have  been,  let  them  be  mar 
ried,  under  the  stars  and  stripes, 
and  roses." 


JULIUS   BIEN 
^  &    COMPANY/ 


A     000  035  483     7 


